Welcome To The Detailed World of The 1980s Legion of Super-Heroes

I have always been unabashed in my belief that the Pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths Paul Levitz Legion is the singular best version of all time. Therefore, the Legion’s world in the 1980s is something I love and adore. With that in mind, probably my favorite Legion extra would be the pages detailing the Legion’s world that we got in Whos Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes #6 published in 1988. This unique look into the future world of the Legion was stunningly detailed and fascinating. Let’s take a journey into the interesting world of the 1980s Legion of Super-Heroes!

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The first page is a great shot of the Metropolis of the Legion of Super-Heroes’ era. There are several fun aspects to this opening page. First, our guide is Oli-3 Queen, a descendent of Oliver Queen, the Green Arrow himself. The dude looks just like Green Arrow right down to the goatee. I love it. Second, note the symbol on the front of the tour ship. it is the symbol for Chevrolet. So, we now know that the classic bow-tie automaker is still making fine vehicles in the far future.

We learn that the Metropolis of the 30th century is massive and constitutes what used to be New York City and Boston in our present-day time period. I find it hilarious thinking that New York and Boston would eventually become one city given how much the Yankees and Red Sox hate each other. Talk about two cities with a true blood feud with each other.

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We then head over to Manhattan. We get a fantastic look at the center of power for the Legion’s world. We see the Science Police Headquarters and the Earth President of the United Planets Council. What I love the most is that the design of this political seat of power is clearly reminiscent of the National Mall which is anchored by the Lincoln Memorial on one end and the Captial Building on the other end.

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Next up is possibly my favorite of all of these pages. This page centers on the Avenue of Heroes outside of the Legion of Super-Heroes headquarters. What I love the most on this page is the Weisinger Plaza that is outside of the front entrance of the Legion’s headquarters. This is a lovely homage to Mort Weisinger who is a giant in DC Comics’ history. Weisinger ran the Superman comics back in the Silver Age and he was the editor of Adventure Comics when the Legion of Super-Heroes first debuted in 1958.

I also like that we see the Metropolis Stadium at the far end of the Avenue of Heroes. This is the stadium where the moopsball champions Metropolis Meteors play. Moopsball! I love stuff like this! I think we need to see a nice moopsball reference in the Fourboot Legion.

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Next up is the Interplanetary Zoo. This is a cool looking page with tons of neat creature designs. One thing we learn from this page is that the movie Blackfish clearly lost its impression on the general populace by the time we arrive in the 30th Century. We know this because we see some adorable looking creatures who are very similar in design to Killer Whales.

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Next on our tour is Restaurant Row. What is great about this page is that we learn how Legionnaires and other celebrities can be seen at the City Star which is a free-floating discotheque. Now that sounds like some 1980s futuristic awesomeness!

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We then arrive at the Metropolis Spaceport. What is so great about this page is it appears that in the 30th century there is no longer a TSA present making your life miserable and performing strip searches of you before your board your spaceship. Win!

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We now get to head to the outskirts of Metropolis and visit the Legion Academy! What I like about this page is how the writer makes the Legion Academy students appear to be a bunch of degenerates. The dialogue box states that Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel, the teachers at the Academy, spend a significant amount of time keeping students from the casinos and clubs. Fantastic. The future of your Legion of Super-Heroes!

I have always loved the location for the Legion Academy. It has a rustic beauty that is a nice contrast with the slick Sci-Fi design of the building. Also, the design of the Legion Academy itself is a strong design.

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We then head over to the Boston Sector of Metropolis. Old Boston is one of Metropolis’ nicer neighborhoods. Also, we learn that Downtown Boston is the social center of Metropolis as well as where the trendiest nightspots and best museums are located. This is also where Metropolis University is located which is the premier institute of higher learning on Earth. Sorry, New York City! It is Boston that ends up being the nicest and trendiest part of Metropolis! That’s gotta sting.

All in all, the design of the Boston Sector of Metropolis is fantastic. I love the sleek Sci-Fi 1980s designs to the various buildings.

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Now we arrive at one of my favorite facilities in the 30th Century: The Time Institute! This is where Brainiac 5 invented the iconic Time Bubble that Legionnaires have been using to travel through time for their entire history. The Time Institute also has a wonderfully sleek design.

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We then head out to the Catskill Park. It is a domed nature preserve. What is not to love about this? Anything domed scores high on my 1980s Sci-Fi meter!

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Last on our tour is the Grand Central Spaceport. My favorite part of this page is the Fusion Powersphere. First, it is a cool name. Second, it is a cool design. Third, we learn that nuclear power is the go-to source of energy in the 30th century.

All right, that is the end of our tour of the 1980s Legion of Super-Heroes’ Metropolis. I hope everyone enjoyed this trip down amnesia lane with this excellent bit of Legion history. Until next time, Long Live the Legion!

In one of the 80’s issues they state the Legion Academy is at Montauk Point, putting it somewhere out on Long Island.

The 90’s reboot has the female character’s for a girl’s night out and they mention flying over the old Chicago Slaughter Houses. So by that point Metropolis also covered the territory from the north Atlantic to the Great Lakes.